What is it about profanity and other vulgarities that draw an audience in?
Aside from the obvious being humor and added shock-value, I might suggest that it may be for the purpose of casually identifying with others or getting on their level. While there are those (even a vast majority of) people that may find it inappropriate and distasteful to use in marketing or in any type of professional setting, I can’t say that I
disagree with them, but I can say that I’m certainly okay with it. And, no, I will not curse in front of small children or teach them bad words… I have 11 young cousins and grew up babysitting most all of them, and I can guarantee you that they didn’t learn any four lettered words from me.
For these reasons among many, I believe in monitoring my mouth as in any other healthy balance of things. Though admittedly, I can’t help but giggle over the occasional, casual use of the F-word or of the ‘so-unimaginable-to-most-people-so-i-wont-even-abbreviate-it’ word(s).
To some, profanity is familiar, it’s casual, even relieving at many times when the situation calls for it. And, again, to some this claim may be entirely inappropriate or untrue, and I totally respect that, I do. I cannot speak for every person. However, my thought here is that profanity — among other ways to push the envelope — screams for attention, while inevitably and successfully getting it.
Much like the controversial F*ck Cancer movement, other campaigns, projects, and additional movements are jumping onboard the profanity train, well, because “it’s what everyone is thinking”. Regardless of your personal feelings about the use of it, when profanity is used in a public campaign for social good it urges us all to pay a little more attention. With somewhere in the ballpark of over 125,000 supporters (in over 11 countries) and quickly growing, this is also true of the latest campaign I’ve stumbled upon to bank of the use of both vulgarity and profanity: GIVE-A-SHIT.org.
By way of some ridiculously hilarious marketing strategies, a not-so-subtle concept & one relatable topic, Give a Sh*t, has successfully reached the masses and is continuing to grow in support with the help of actress and celebrity, Nikki Reed (Twilight) as the face of the cause.
Please be warned that the video clip you are about to see contains vulgar content & excessive profanity.
Why the bad language, you might ask?
“Some of you may be wondering why we’ve used bad language.
Well, we’re not offended by bad language. We’re offended by billions of people dying from lack of clean water. We’re offended by the rainforest being devastated by human greed. We’re offended by famine in Africa. So if we have to talk shit, then that’s what we’ll do.”
- Creators at GIVE-A-SH*T
Doesn’t it just make you feel all warm and tingly inside? … No? Well, maybe the cause will or at least the idea behind it. At GIVE-A-SHIT.org they’re not asking for anything. No, really. All they’re asking is for you to give a sh*t and share it with the world… share the fact that you care, that is. Still not convinced? Check out their website (GIVE-A-SHIT.org) to learn more about the cause and how YOU can give a sh*t while taking one in order to support the world around us.
Either way, I think you rock!
